“Servant of the People” MP Marchenko Can Continue Running a Business While in Parliament, Correspondence Shows

As the correspondence shows, the MP understands that her actions are illegal.

“Servant of the People” MP Liudmyla Marchenko can combine her parliamentary work with commercial activity. 

The corresponding video of the correspondence was filmed and provided to TK Media by journalist Oleksiy Lypovetskyi. It shows the deputy paying for utility services supplied to the Bograch restaurant in Ternopil, as well as correspondence with one of its managers. The video was filmed on Wednesday, February 5.

The correspondent also managed to record a list of Marchenko's chats. Among them are the restaurant's working chats, “Bograch — KASA” and “Pokazniki — Bograch”. Based on Marchenko's presence in these chats, one can conclude that the deputy takes part in managing the establishment.

The video shows Marchenko's correspondence with one of the restaurant's managers, Nastya K., in which the deputy discusses commercial matters of the restaurant's operations.

fragment of correspondence between Marchenko and the restaurant manager

Marchenko: Why is the bill in my name? I'm not a PP 
Nastya K.: Should it be in Marchenko Ivan's name?
Marchenko: Nastyush, I'm a deputy. I don't conduct any commercial activity. Sole proprietor Marchenko Ivan. We do everything according to the law. I'll pay now so you don't have to go again, and you call and tell them to close the payer Ivan account.

It is worth noting that in correspondence with Marchenko, Nastya K. sent her photos of utility bills issued to the Bograch restaurant. This may indicate that Marchenko is directly involved in the restaurant's commercial activity and may be receiving profit from it.

According to the video, Marchenko paid Bograch's utility bills in the amount of 10,230 hryvnias.

“Sole proprietor Marchenko Ivan” most likely refers to Liudmyla's husband, Ivan Oleksandrovych Marchenko. He is registered as an individual entrepreneur at 9 Volodymyra Velykoho Street in Ternopil. The Bograch restaurant is located at the same address.

According to OpenDataBot, Liudmyla Marchenko previously had a sole proprietorship with the activity “restaurant services.” On August 5, after being elected as a People's Deputy, the MP closed the sole proprietorship.

Also, in one of the chats mentioned above, Marchenko gives instructions to restaurant staff: “Alenka, Sveta and everyone… don't turn on the air curtain on the front doors for now.” 

At the same time, Marchenko's declaration states that in 2018 she received 101,720 hryvnias in income from entrepreneurial activity.

We asked Liudmyla Marchenko about receiving profit or income from the business activity of the Bograch restaurant and are ready to add the deputy's position at any time.